Sound reproduction device working according to the bending wave principle

Abstract

The invention concerns the embodiment of panel loudspeakers working according to the bending wave principle. Said loudspeakers are generally formed by at least one acoustic panel ( 11 ) and at least one driver ( 12 ), the driver ( 12 ) being connected to the acoustic panel ( 11 ). When such acoustic panels ( 11 ) are used for reproducing low frequency audio signals, the acoustic panel ( 11 ) must be arranged in sufficiently large sound walls in order to exclude the occurrence of an acoustic short circuit between the front part and the back part of the panel. Apart from being costly, only one side of the sound walls is actively used for sound generation as a result of the separation of both acoustic panels ( 11 ). Hence, the invention aims at providing a panel loudspeaker ( 10 ) that does not require any additional sound walls in order to exclude the occurrence of an acoustic short circuit while at the same time enabling full utilization of the surface of the acoustic panel ( 11 ) for sound generation. This is achieved by arranging two of the acoustic panels ( 11.1, 11.2 ) at a distance (A) in relation to each other, by providing elements ( 13 ) connecting both acoustic panels ( 11.1, 11.2 ) and by arranging the drivers ( 12 ) on the sides of the acoustic panels ( 11.1, 11.2 ) facing each other. Due to the fact that, once connected, both acoustic panels ( 11.1, 11.2 ) vibrate in opposite directions they mimic the principle of a breathing sphere or wall.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. Sound reproduction device comprising 
       at least two sound panels, each sound panel formed of a core layer and at least two cover layers positioned on opposing sides of the core layer, and each sound panel having at least one driver which is attached to or integrated with the sound panel,  
       wherein two of the sound panels are arranged so as to form a gap therebetween,  
       the sound reproduction device further including a connecting element that connects the two sound panels with one another,  
       wherein the at least one driver of one sound panel is disposed on a side of the respective sound panel so as to face a side of the other sound panel having the at least one driver of the other sound panel.  
     
     
       2. Sound reproduction device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one driver of one of the two sound panels is connected with a driver of the other one of the two sound panels. 
     
     
       3. Sound reproduction device according to  claim 2 , wherein the connected drivers of both sound panels are formed as a common driver. 
     
     
       4. Sound reproduction device according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting element is a frame that is connected with edges of the at least two sound panels. 
     
     
       5. Sound reproduction device according to  claim 1 , further including resilient elements disposed between two sides of the sound panels that face each other. 
     
     
       6. Sound reproduction device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sound panels and the connecting elements has at least one sound exit opening. 
     
     
       7. Sound reproduction device according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one driver is connected with the connecting elements and the resilient elements. 
     
     
       8. Sound reproduction device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a cover layer and the core layer of one of the two sound panels is made of a material that is different or has different dimensions from a material of at least one of a cover layer and the core layer of the other of the two sound panels. 
     
     
       9. A sound reproduction device, comprising: 
       a front sound panel having a core layer and at least two cover layers positioned on opposing sides of the core layer;  
       a rear sound panel having a core layer and at least two cover layers positioned on opposing sides of the core layer;  
       a first driver between the front sound panel and the rear sound panel and facing the front sound panel; and  
       a second driver between the front sound panel and the rear sound panel and facing the rear sound panel.  
     
     
       10. The sound reproduction device of  claim 9 , further comprising a connecting element that connects the front sound panel to the rear sound panel. 
     
     
       11. The sound reproduction device of  claim 10 , wherein the connecting element comprises a frame that is connected with edges of the front sound panel and the rear sound panel. 
     
     
       12. The sound reproduction device of  claim 10 , further comprising a sound exit opening disposed in the connecting element. 
     
     
       13. The sound reproduction device of  claim 9 , further comprising a sound exit opening disposed in at least one of the front sound panel or the rear sound panel. 
     
     
       14. The sound reproduction device of  claim 9 , wherein the front sound panel and the rear sound panel are spaced apart to form a gap therebetween. 
     
     
       15. The sound reproduction device of  claim 9 , further comprising resilient elements disposed between a side of the front sound panel and a side of the rear sound panel. 
     
     
       16. The sound reproduction device of  claim 9 , wherein the first driver is attached to or integrated with the front sound panel, and the second driver is attached to or integrated with the rear sound panel. 
     
     
       17. A sound reproduction device, comprising: 
       a front sound panel having a core layer and at least two cover layers positioned on opposing sides of the core layer;  
       a rear sound panel having a core layer and at least two cover layers positioned on opposing sides of the core layer; and  
       a common driver between the front sound panel and the rear sound panel.  
     
     
       18. The sound reproduction device of  claim 17 , further comprising a connecting element that connects the front sound panel to the rear sound panel, the connecting element forming a gap between the front sound panel and the rear sound panel. 
     
     
       19. The sound reproduction device of  claim 18 , wherein the connecting element comprises a frame that is connected with edges of the front sound panel and the rear sound panel. 
     
     
       20. The sound reproduction device of  claim 18 , further comprising a sound exit opening disposed in the connecting element. 
     
     
       21. The sound reproduction device of  claim 17 , further comprising a sound exit opening disposed in at least one of the front sound panel or the rear sound panel. 
     
     
       22. The sound reproduction device of  claim 17 , further comprising resilient elements disposed between a side of the front sound panel and a side of the rear sound panel. 
     
     
       23. The sound reproduction device of  claim 17 , wherein the common driver is attached to or integrated in at least one of the front sound panel and the rear sound panel.